Lock for counterbalanced elevator doors



Dec. 18, 1934.

LOCK` FOR COUNTERBALANCED ELEVATOR DOORS R. S, PEELLE Filed June 23,1933 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES LOCK FORCOUNTERBALANCED ELEVATOR DOORS Robert S. Peelle, Hollis, N. Y., assignorto The Peelle Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication June 23, 1933, Serial No. 677,304 7 claims. (ci. isi- 31)The invention relates to locks for counterbalanced elevator doors, andmore particularly to a combined mechanical lock-and electric interlock.1

Counterbalanced elevator doors of the type to which the presentinvention relates are used in connection with freight elevators inwarehouses, loft and similar types'of buildings.

ln some instances the freight elevators are operated by a regularattendant, while in other instances, these elevators are operated byporters, s'tevedores or other handlers of freight being carried on theelevator. To afford safeguards against the extension of lires in suchbuildings, the doors are required to be fire retardant, and in manyjurisdictions there are ordinances requiringthe use with such doors ofan electric interlock by means of which the application of power `to anelevator car is prevented unless all of the' doors in a'shaft are fullyclosed and locked.

In some localities it is required that the electric interlock bepositively actuated to interrupt the circuit to the motor impartingmovement to the car before the door can be opened, thus preventingtampering with the interlock mechanism in a manner'` to make itinoperative. This is referred to merely because the lock of theinvention is shown as being of thisqparticular YDS- It has long been thepractice to equip counter-v balanced freight elevator doors with alocking mechanism consisting of laterally movable bolts carried by thelower door section and engageable with keepers upon the guide railstructure at opposite sides of the door opening, and having a centralrotatable plate pivotally connected with said bolts for ensuringsimultaneous movement thereof into or out of engagement with saidkeepers. It has also been a common practice to provide an electricinterlock mechanism actuated by one of said bolts.` With suchmechanisms, both bolts were always under the control of thecentralactuating mechanism above referred to, and thismechanism wasautomatically actuated as a result of the movement of the bolts by astriker plate associated` with one or both of said keepers.` i

With a locking mechanism carried by the lower door section, thissection, when the door was closed, was held in its uppermost position soas to relieve the chains from the load of the lower door section whenthe door was closed.

With the above conditions in mind, I have provided a lock forcounterbalanced elevator doors, which may be applied to the uppersection of a counterbalanced freight elevator door so as to permit theopening of the door by the application of upward stresses to the lockactuating mechanism, said lock being adapted to control the functioningof an velectric lock mechanism as to one bolt carried thereby, and as tothe other bolt thereof, to bind the two door sections together in amanner to hold them in the closed and locked position.

The bolts have a right line movement into and out of engagement with theinterlock mechanism and the keeper member co-operating therewithrespectively, and while the actuating mechanism simultaneously actuatesboth bolts when opening a door, when closing a door the bolts havemovement entirely independently of the actuating mechanism and eachother. This condition is desirable inasmuch as the construction of theordinary electric interlock is such as to require a time interval forthe actuation of the bolt co-operating therewith considerably greaterthan is required for the actuation of a bolt for the purpose of ensuringits engagement with the co-operating keeper carried by one of the doorsections.

By using oppositely movable bolts having right line movement, theslotting of the angle metal frame of the lower door section to form akeeper adapted to co-operate with a hooked latch memberis unnecessary,and it is possible to locate the actuating mechanism either centrally ofthe door or at any point between the sides thereof since this positionof the actuating mechanism merely necessitates the use at opposite sidesof the door of bolts of proper relative lengths, the construction of thelock of the invention being such as to not only permit longitudinaladjustment of the bolts to ensure a proper setting thereof in relationto the interlock mechanism when installing `the doors in an elevatorshaft, but to permit the determination of the length of the boltsaccording to the position of the actuating mechanism therefor by a`selection of bolt parts of the required lengths. i

The use of bolts having a right line movement, and the movability ofthese bolts in relation to their actuating mechanism upon the closing ofthe door,not only permits a fairly close adjustment of the bolts inrelation to the electric interlock and the keeper with which theyrespectively co-operate, but also permits the use of an actuatingmechanism operative upon the bolts at a leverage sufficiently great toassure ease in the release of the locking mechanism. Y

The lock of the invention is composed of few parts, which may be made ofmaterials and of a design possessing great strength notwithstanding thatthey must be conned within a narrowv space.

The invention consists primarily in a lock for counterbalanced elevatordoors embodying therein a housing carried by one of the sections of saiddoor, bolts slidably mounted in and extending beyond opposite sides ofsaid housing and ofthe door, a spring having a normal ,tendency toimpart a right line movement to said bolts outwardly of the housing,actuating means for said bolts comprising a pivotal member,substantially diametrically opposite studs carried thereby, each of saidbolts havingv a shoulder adapted to be engaged by a stud upon saidpivotal member and an operating handle for said member, an electricinterlock mounted adjacent the door and having a striker and keeperplate engageable by one of said bolts, and a striker and keeper membercarried-by the other door section with which the other bolt co-operates;and in such other novel features of construction and combination ofparts, as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularlypointed out in the claims hereto appended.

...Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a View from the Ashaft side, of a standard form ofcounterbalanced elevator door having the lock of the invention appliedthereto;

Fig. 2 is a laterally condensed View of the lock mechanism upon a largerscale with the face plate of the lock housing removed and parts of thewalls broken away; and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the central portion of the lock mechanismincluding the actuating mechanism.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout thev several views.

The characteristics of the lock of the invention are such as to adapt itonly to use with counterbalanced freightV elevator doors. This type ofdoor has two sections which are oppositely and vertically movable in thesame, or

in parallelplanes, and are used to close doorv openings which varygreatly in width, said door openings seldom being less than six feet inwidth', and sometimes being of a width of iifteen or twenty feet. Suchdoors can be operated only from the shaft side of the door opening bythe attendant upon an elevator car.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown-a standard form of such a doorwhich consists of an'upper door section 10, a lower door section 11, andflexibleconnections 12 xbetween the door sections passing overl sheaves13 whichare usually located adjacent the lintel of a door opening. y

In counterbalanced elevator doors each section is formed of arectangular angle metal frame 14, the opening within which is closed byapanel which in some instances consists of corrugated sheet metal, and inother instances consists of 'a wood core having a metal sheathing.

Each door section is movable upon a guide rail structure extendingthroughout the shaft at opposite sidesof the various door openingstherein, such structures being shown in the drawing at 15 and 16. Thehousings of the sheaves 13are carried by the guide rail structures l5and 16 respectively.

l Also carried by one of the guide structures is an velectric. interlockmechanism 17 controlling` the application of power to the elevator car.The details of this mechanism are immaterial to the present invention,it being merely necessary to 'understand rthat it has la striker andkeeper plate V18.

The lower door section 11 is provided with what is known as a hanger bar19 which forms a part of the top rail structure of this section, and hasprojecting ends to which the flexible connections 12 are attached. Thishanger bar `lateral extensions 21 and 22.

is made of angle metal, except as to the projecting ends thereof which`have the horizontal flange of the angle bar 19 cutaway so as to permitsaid ends to extend across the edge of the adjacent guide railstructure.

All of the structural characteristics above referredto are'old and wellknown in the counterbalanced freight elevator door art, and are referredto merely to enable a better understanding of the reasons for, and themode of operation of, the lock mechanism of the invention.

The lock o f the mechanism comprises a housing 20 having,` adjacent thebottom thereof, This housing is secured to the panel of the upper doorsection 1l adjacent the lower edge thereof by means of bolts 23 passingthrough the door vand through the extensions 21 and 22 and lug 24adjacent the top of the housing. The lower part of the housingvisprovided with a guide ange 25 extending throughout the width of thehousing and the length of the extensions'Zl and 22. Said extensions arealso provided with guide iianges 26 and 27 parallel with the flange 25.

Slidably mounted within the housing 29 are oppositely movable bolts 28and 29, said bolts being-positioned between the flanges 25 and 26 and27'respectively, and extending beyond opposite sides of the housing.yEach bolt is provided with a cutout shown at 30 aiording clearanceadjacent the securing bolts 23 passing through the extensions 21 and 22,and utilizing the nuts upon these bolts to prevent any possibility ofthe escape of the bolts from the housing, and arrangement supplementingthe action of the bolt actuating mechanism, to be hereinafter described,in securing this permanency in the relation of the bolts and thehousing.

To permit the use of a standard lock mechanism with doors of differentdimensions, the bolts 28 and 29 respectively are provided with slots 31and 32 by means of which and adjusting bolts 33, bolt extensions 34 and35 may be incorporated in the lock structure. By this construction, boltextensions of any desired length may be used, the slots 31-32 and theadjusting bolts 33 permitting a limited range of movement of the boltextensions in securing a proper setting of same in relation to thekeepers with which they. co-operate.

As shown in the drawing, the bolt extension 34 is vprovided with ahooked end 36 to ensure the positive interruption of the circuitsupplying power to the elevator with the release of the lockingmechanism prior to the initial opening movement of a door. The two bolts28 and 29 are in axial alinement one with the other, and have a rightline movement away from each other when the bolts are shot, and towardeach other whenthe lock is to be released.

Said bolts are acted upon by a coiled spring 37, the opposite ends ofwhich bear against spring seats 38 and 39 formed in the adjacent ends ofthe bolts. This spring has a normal tendency to force the boltsoutwardly of the housing 20 to an extent limited by the bolt actuatingmechanism and the securing bolts 23.

The housing 20 is provided with a bearing stud 40 upon which is mountedan actuating plate 41 having substantially diametrically opposite studs42 and 43 and a radially extending actuating handle 44 projectinglaterally from the housing. The bolt 28 is provided with an offsetshoulder 45 engaged with the stud 43 by the action of the spring 37. Thebolt 29 is pro- Cil vided with an offsetiarm 46 having` a shoulder 47which is engaged with the stud 43 by the action of the spring 37. Theoffset arm 46is used so as to position the shoulders and 47substantially diametricallyfopposite eachother in relation to the axisof the actuating' `plat'e'fil, so that the turning of this plate willsimultaneously draw both bolts `28 and 29 inwardly `of the housing?against the tension of the spring 37. -It will be noted that wth'this`construction and arrangement of parts, the bolts 28 and 29 may receivemovement inwardly of tli'eliousing as a resultof the turning ofthe'plate41,but may also have such movement 'entirely inde#- pendentlyof said plate and of the studs carried thereby. r f,

The shoulders 45 4and 47 are of a length to preclude any possibility ofthe studs passing out of engagementk therewith' as a` result oftheturning movement "of the plate carrying said studs, although thelarcuatemovement of said studs is not suflicientlylong to require anysubstantial length of said shoulders.

The bolt 23v is adapted to co-operate with the striker and keeper plate18 of the electric interlock mechanism with` the two-fold function ofassisting in preventing opening movement of the door and the control ofpower to the elevator car operating moto-r. 4This bolt therefore servesto restrain upward movement of the door section 10, and through theflexible connections 12, downward movement of the lower doorlsection 11.It is desirable, however, to relieve the electric interlock mechanismfrom excessive stresses resulting from.` possible attempts to open thedoor from the floor side, and also to prevent possible separationof thetwo door sections through slack `in the chains. To do this, I provideupon thehanger bar of the lower door section, a striker and keeper hook48 en` gageable by the bolt 29 when the twodoor sections are in theclosed position, this construction not only serving to protect theelectricinterlock from the stresses above referred to, but rmly bindingthe two door sections together at one edge thereof. This .bolt andkeeper arrangement will prevent rebound of `the doors following theclosing movement, and is adequate because of the counterbalancing of thetwo door sections to prevent their .separation after they have once beenbrought into the fully closed position.

The various parts of the lock mechanism, shown more particularly in Fig.3, may be made of malleable iron castings requiring substantially nomachine finishing thereof.

The ends of the bolt members 28`and 29 ad, jacent the stop 32 arereduced in thickness as compared with the remaining portions of thesemembers, so as to facilitate the mounting of the bolt extensions 34 and35 thereon, which sections 34 and 35 carry the adjusting bolts 33. Thedoor section 10 has secured thereto straps 49 guiding the boltextensions 34 and 35 adjacent the angle metal frame of the door.

While, in the accompanying drawing, the bolt actuating mechanism isshown as being mounted substantially centrally of the width of the door,the use of the bolt extensions permits this mechanism to be locatedadjacent the side edge of the door where it is conveniently accessibleto the attendant. This construction has the further advantage that itpermits the use of a standard construction of lock actuating mechanismupon doors of different widths.4

.While the operation of the lock of theinvention is `apparent from theforegoing description, it is' desired to stress `certain conditionswhich make the lock particularly adaptable to the type of door with.Ywhich it is designed for use.. v

When opening counterbalanced freight elevator doors, theoperator appliesan upward stress to'the operating handle 44 forcingv it into theposition shown in dotted ylines Fig.' 2.L .While passing to thisposition,no upward movement is imparted to the doorsection 10, but theplate 41 is so turned asto cause the pins 42 and 43 thereon to` drawboth bolts toward the centerrof the door, thusv simultaneouslypermitting the actuation of the electric interlock to prevent theapplication of power to the elevator car, and disengaging one bolt fromthe strikerfplate of the electric interlock mechanism Vand the otherbolt from the keeper '48;' Consequently, the attendant, by a continuingupward pressure upon said handle, will consecutively unlock the door andimpart an upward impetus to the upper door section 10. f

The tension of the spring 37 is not sufcicntly great to oifer enoughresistance to the turning movement of the plate 41 to cause theapplication of any lifting stresses to the door. This avoids thedevelopment of frictional resistance to the movement of thebolts inrelation ,to their co-operating keepers. By using a plate 41 havingstuds 42 and 43 acting upon the bolts 28 and 29, and by using a longhandle 44 carried' by said plate 41, pressure applied to said handleacts upon the bolts at aneifective leverage.- This also ensures adesired length ofv movement of the bolts with small turning movement ofthe plate. l

When closing a door, the attendant merely ex-y erts a downward pull uponthe upper door section 1,0. y Since the two sections are approximatelyof the same weight, the closing movement of the door is fairly rapid andthe acquired momentum is sufficiently great to permit a substantiallycomplete closing movement of the doors following the application of aninitial closing impulse thereto by the attendant.

As the upper door section approaches its fully closed position, the boltextension 34 engages the striker plate 18 of the electric interlockhousing before the bolt extension A35 is in the operative relation tothe keeper hook 48. This condition is unavoidable because of structuralcharacteristics inherent to the type of electric interlocks used inconnection with counterbalanced elevator doors. As the end of said bolt34 passes the inclined portion ofwsaid striker plate, the entire boltpasses inwardly of the housing 20 against the tension of the spring 37,-no movement being imparted to the actuating'plat'e 41 sincethe-shoulder 45 merely passes from its engaging relation therewith.

As the bolt extension 35 engages the hooked keeper 48 carried by thehanger bary 19 yof the lower door section, it will be forced toward thehousing 20 against the tension of the spring 37, theshoulder 47 passingfrom its engagement with the stud 42, no movementbeing imparted to theplate 4l. y,

As the bolt 34 comes into alinement with the opening in the strikerplate 18, the end of the bolt 35 passes below the hooked end of thekeeper` 48 and both bolts are forced outwardly of the housing` 20- bythe spring 37.v This movement yis suflicientlyV rapid, because ofthespring being under=its greatest tension at this time, to avoid possiblereboundof the two door sections fol` lowing their impact uponthecompletion of their closure movement. y

The right line movement of the movable bolts ensures a desired ease ofmovement thereof that avoids binding action, particularly during therelease of the locking mechanism.

By actuating the bolts by studs engageable with, but unconnectedthereto, movement of the bolts when closing a door imparts no movementto the handle 44 and the right line movement of the bolts rabovereferred to is secured.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being apparent that.such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is:-`

.1. A lock for counterbalanced elevator doors embodying therein ahousing carried by one of the sections of said door, bolts slidablymounted in and extending beyond opposite sides of said housing and ofthe door, a spring having a normal tendency to impart a right .linemovement to said bolts outwardly of the housing, actuating means forsaid bolts comprising a pivotal member, substantially diametricallyopposite studs carried thereby, eachv of said bolts having a shoulderadapted to be engaged by a stud upon said pivotal member and anoperating handle for said member, an electric interlock mounted adjacentthe door and having a striker and keeper plate engageable by one of saidbolts,y and a striker and keeper member carried by the other doorsection with which the other bolt co-operates.

2. A lock for embodying therein a housing carried by one of the sectionsof said door, and having parallel spaced guide flanges, axially alinedbolts mounted between said guide flanges and extending beyond oppositesides of said housing and of the door, adjacent ends of said boltshaving spring seats formed therein, a coiled spring having-its oppositeends engaged withsaid spring seats, actuating means Afor said boltscomprising a pivotal member, substantially diametrically opposite studscarried thereby, each of said bolts having a shoulder adapted to beengaged by a stud upon said pivotal member and an operating handle forsaid member, an electric interlock mounted adjacent the door and havinga striker and keeper plate engageable by one of said-bolts, and astriker and keeper member carried by the other door section with whichthe other bolt cooperates.

3. A lock for counterbalanced elevator doors embodying therein avhousing carried by one of the sections of said door, axially alinedboltsslidably mounted in, and extending beyond, opposite sides of saidhousing and of the door, one of said bolts having an offset shoulderformed on the end thereof within the housing, and the other of saidbolts having an offset arm provided with a shoulder positioned insubstantial alinement with, but spaced in relation to, the shoulder uponsaid other bolt, a spring having a normal tendency to impart a rightline movement to said bolts outwardly of the housing, actuatingy meansfor said bolts comprising a member pivoted intermediate said shoulders,diametrically opposite studs thereon engageable with saidshoulcounterbalanced elevator doorsA ders respectively, and a radiallyextending operating handle for said member,'an electricinterlockmounted'. adjacent the door and having a striker and keeperplate engageable by one of said bolts, and a striker and keeper membercarried bythe other door section with which the other bolt co-operates.

45A lock for counterbalanced elevator doors embodying therein a housingcarried by one of the sections of said' door, bolts slidably mounted in,and extending beyond, opposite sides of said housing, bolt extensionsadjustably secured to saidbolts and projecting beyond the edges of saiddoorga spring having a normal tendency to impart a right line movementto said bolts outwardly of the housing, actuating means for saidboltscomprising a pivotal membensubstantially diametrically oppositeystuds carried thereby, eachof said bolts lhaving a shoulder adapted tobe engaged by a stud upon said pivotal member and an operating handlefor said member, an electric interlock mounted adjacent the door andhaving a striker and keeper plate engageable by one of -said bolts, anda striker and keeper member carried by the other door section with whichthe other bolt co-operates.

5. A lock for counterbalanced elevator doors embodying therein a housingcarried by one of the sections of said door, axially alined boltsslidably mounted in, and extending beyond, opposite sides of saidhousing, one of said bolts having an offset shoulder formed on the endthereof within the housing, and the other of said bolts having an offsetarm provided with a shoulder positioned in substantial alinement with,but spaced `in relation to, the shoulder upon said other bolt, boltextensions adjustably secured to saidi'bolts andprojecting beyondtheedges of said door, a. spring having a normal tendency to impart a-rightline movement to said bolts outwardly of the housing, actuating meansfor said bolts comprising a member pivoted intermediate said shoulders,diametrically opposite studs thereon engageable with said shouldersrespectively,l and a radially extending operating handle for saidmember, an electric interlock mounted adjacentlthe door and having astriker and keeper plate engageable by one of said bolts, and a strikerand keeper member carried by the other doorysection with which the otherbolt cooperates.

6. A lock for counterbalanced elevator doors embodying therein a housingcarried by one of the sections of said door, and having parallel spacedguide flanges, axially alined bolts mounted between said guide flangesand extending beyond opposite sides of. said housing, adjacent ends ofsaid 'bolts having spring seats formed therein, and one of said boltshaving an offset shoulder formed on the end thereof Within the housing,and the other of said bolts having an offset arm provided With ashoulder positioned in substantial alinement with, but spaced in`relation to, the shoulder upon said other bolt, bolt extensionsadjustably secured to said bolts and projecting beyond the edges of saiddoor, a coiled spring having its opposite ends engaged withsaid. springseats, actuating means for said bolts comprising a member pivotedintermediate said shoulders, diametrically opposite studs thereonengageable with said shoulders respectively, and a lradially extendingoperating handle for said member, an electric interlock mounted adjacentthe door and having a striker and keeper plate engageable by one of saidbolts,

and a striker and keeper member carried by the other door section withwhich the other bolt co-operates.

7. A lock for counterbalanced elevator doors embodying therein a housingcarried by the upper section of said door, bolts slidably mounted in,and extending beyond, opposite sides of said housing and of the door, aspring having a normal tendency to impart a right line movement to saidbolts outwardly of the housing, actuating means for said boltscomprising a pivotal member, substantially diametrically opposite studscarried thereby, each of said studs having a shoulder adapted to beengaged by a stud upon said pivotal member and an operating handle forsaid member, an electric interlock mounted adjacent the door and havinga striker and keeper plate engaged by one of said bolts, a hanger barupon and projecting beyond the edge of the lower door section, and ahooked striker and keeper member projecting upwardly from said hangerbar into engaging relation 10 with the other of said bolts.

ROBERT S. PEELLE.

